Essien makes CAF top five

Michael Essien has been named as one of the five nominees for the 2005 African Footballer of the Year.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the names of five players who have been nominated for the African Footballer of the Year Award. Barcelona striker Samuel Eto?o who won the award in 2003 and 2004 was among the names of the five players that were announced. Ivory Coast and Chelsea forward Didier Drogba, Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo & Monaco, France), Marouane Chamakh (Morocco & Bordeaux, France) and Michael Essien (Ghana & Chelsea, England) are the other players who made the shortlist.

The shortlist, which was compiled by the CAF media and technical committees will be further shortened to three players on 19 November with all the member associations of CAF casting their votes for the nominees.

The annual CAF awards ceremony will take place in Nigeria?s capital Abuja for the first time on 9 January where the winner will be announced.